Since joining the Bush Heritage Volunteer Program two years ago, I've had the opportunity to work on a range of properties and activities, including painting the old boundary rides cottage at Charles Darwin Reserve, fauna surveys at Monjebup, general maintenance on Eurardy Reserve and tree planting at Yarraweyah Falls.

These experiences plus the interaction with other talented volunteers and Bush Heritage staff, led me to apply to be part of the inaugural Volunteer Advisory Committee. I had no hesitation in committing my time for two years to help Bush Heritage volunteers around Australia make the most of their time and efforts.

This year the Volunteer Advisory Committee has been working collaboratively with reserve staff and has provided input into the development of a Volunteer Award and Recognition Policy as well as a Volunteer Program Policy, which will be finalised in early 2017.

Each committee member has been allocated an individual project to work on for the duration of their commitment. My project sees me focusing on all facets of reporting to ensure that our volunteer contribution is effectively showcased in the outcomes and outputs that contribute to the overall conservation goals of the organisation.

Working with the six other volunteer members from across Australia, along with the ability to contribute my time from the comfort of home, sees this work as a really worthwhile experience, not just for me but for the greater benefit of all Bush Heritage Volunteers.